MSc International Business Economics

The MSc International Business Economics is part of our Applied Training Programme, which is designed to provide key skills in economics. It’s ideal if you’re a graduate without an economics background, yet wish to develop the analytical skills of an economist. It’s also suitable if you’re an economics graduate and wish to develop specialist expertise in this area without committing to full research training.

You will gain a firm foundation in your subject through compulsory taught modules in Economic Concepts, Econometrics, International Trade, and Multinational Firms. Alongside this, you will choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as finance, financial mathematics, environmental economics, and media economics. Towards the end of your 12 months with us you will write a dissertation, which will be supervised by a member of the School of Economics.

We also offer additional support to help you get the most from your Master’s. This includes an optional, intensive pre-sessional course in the fortnight before your programme begins in September. This courseincorporates an introduction to the specialist econometric software that you will use in your MSc programme. While not compulsory, we strongly recommend you take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

About

Gain an international perspective as you develop your knowledge of global business and enhance your understanding of the international economy.

On this MSc you will develop your core understanding and skills with compulsory modules such as Economic Concepts, Econometric Methods, International Trade and Multinational Firms. You will then have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules. You will finish your course by writing a dissertation with supervision and support from a member of the School of Economics.

The course is ideal if you’d like to work in the areas of finance, management or international business since it develops a range of transferable skills, including data analysis, as well as investigating the motivation and financial practices of international firms.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

Your modules will typically be assessed by a combination of coursework and examinations. Your exams will be two hours long and will take place during the summer assessment period.

Your coursework will be in a variety of forms – including take-home assignments, seminar presentations, written tests, computer tests and your dissertation (which you will submit at the end of August).

Throughout your course you will be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. You will receive written feedback for all pieces of coursework and further guidance will be available from your module’s organisers.

If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.

Structure

The MSc International Business Economics is a one-year course. In each semester you will take three modules, followed by writing your dissertation in the period between June and August.

In your autumn semester you will take Economic Concepts, Econometric Methods and your choice of Economics of the Mass Media, Finance, Financial Mathematics, International Finance, and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. In spring you will take International Trade, Multinational Firms and another optional module.

Although you will write your dissertation between June and August, you will begin your dissertation module with a sequence of dissertation training lectures and workshops in spring. Here you will discover how to choose a topic, how to access data and search literature, how to reference, and how to analyse quantitative data.

You will be able to take advantage of further dissertation training workshops in late June and early July. These will be held in computer labs, with the objective of providing the types of econometric skills often required in dissertation work.

Teaching and Learning

UEA’s School of Economics is lively, friendly, research orientated and committed to excellence in teaching. We’ve an international reputation in many key areas, including theoretical and applied economics. Our research interests include behavioural and experimental economics, competition economics, environmental policy, conflict, contests and corporate behaviour, finance and financial markets.

Teaching on each of your modules will be spread over two semesters. In a typical module, you will have two hours of lectures and one hour of seminars per week. Your seminars are more interactive than lectures and provide you with an opportunity to raise questions arising from lectures.

In your econometric modules, your seminars will take place in computer labs, where you will learn how to conduct econometric analysis using specialist econometric software.

You will also become practiced in independent study, spending time working on coursework assignments, preparing for seminars, and doing your own wider reading.

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Open Days

If a student has a substantial background in Economics, we may require them to take ECO-7003A and ECO-7019B in place of ECO-7011A and ECO-7016B respectively. For such students, a wider range of Economics options would then be available.

Assessment for Year 1

Your modules will typically be assessed by a combination of coursework and examinations. Your exams will be two hours long and will take place during the summer assessment period.

If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.

Compulsory Modules

ECONOMETRIC METHODS

Code ECO-7000A

Credits 20

Are you interested in working with data? Would you like to be able to make economics forecasts or predictions, or test an economic theory? If so, this module will introduce you the empirical techniques you need to satisfy these interests. This module will introduce you to econometrics, which is a combination of economic theory, mathematical economics, economic statistics and mathematical statistics. You’ll learn some basic econometric techniques that will enable you to obtain numerical estimates of, for example, the relationship between expenditure on a good and income, or the relationship between years of education and pay. In addition, as your seminars will take place in the computer labs, you’ll gain skills in analysing data using the econometric computer package STATA. In the first part of the module, you’ll be shown how to estimate a simple regression model, interpret your findings and test the relationships between variables. As you progress, you’ll learn how to identify problems with your model and how to address these problems. In lectures you’ll learn about the techniques; in seminars you’ll apply these techniques to a variety of economic problems and estimate models with the help of STATA. In the later part of the module you’ll consider a more advanced style of modelling, which is appropriate for dealing with data on the choices made by individuals. For example, owning your own home rather than renting, or going to university instead of entering the labour market. By the end of the module you’ll be able to estimate appropriate regression models, identify problems which may arise and know how to address them. In addition, you’ll be able use STATA and understand some of the methods, models and techniques that may be useful in the workplace.

MULTINATIONAL FIRMS

Code ECO-7010B

Credits 20

This module is structured around three main questions: Why do multi-nationals exist? What are their beneficial effects? Why might they sometimes be a cause for concern? In answering these questions we confront a variety of theoretical and empirical methodologies (e.g, oligopoly theory, transactions costs, econometric methods, case studies in corporate strategy) and draw upon various branches of Economics ( e.g. International Economics, Industrial Economics, Labour Economics, Financial Economics and Political Economy).

ECONOMICS DISSERTATION (60 CREDITS)

Code ECO-7023X

Credits 60

Economics Dissertation is the “icing on the cake” of an Economics MSc. It is a module that brings together the skills that you have learnt throughout your degree programme and applies these skills to study a particular topic of your interest. This module gives you an opportunity to spend a period of 2 or 3 months working exclusively on a topic of your own choice, at your own pace, with guidance from a supervisor. The module commences with a sequence of “dissertation training” lectures during the Spring Semester, including such themes as choosing a topic, accessing data, searching the literature, referencing, and qualitative data analysis. There are further dissertation training lectures during late June and early July, held in computer labs, with the objective of providing the types of econometric skills often required in dissertation research. The Econometric software STATA is used, the same as used in taught modules in Econometrics. At the end of the Spring semester, you will submit a research proposal stating the research question you would like to address and proposing a suitable methodology. You can also select to work on a dissertation topic either with a business, charity or other organisation. In all cases, it is your responsibility to come up with a research proposal although you are encouraged to speak with instructors and the PG Course Director for advice and guidance. On the basis of your proposal, a suitable supervisor will be allocated to you. At least three meetings with the supervisor should take place between May - July. The total contact time over these meetings should be at least three hours. At the first meeting, the research proposal is discussed. By the time of the third and final meeting, you should ideally have supplied a first draft of the dissertation for your supervisor to provide feedback on. The deadline for the dissertation is at the end of August and the word limit for dissertations is either 8,000 or 12,000, depending on which MSc you are taking. If you want to work on a dissertation topic with a business, charity or other organisation you must get your dissertation topic pre-approved by the PG Course Director.

ECONOMIC CONCEPTS

Code ECO-7011A

Credits 20

Introducing micro and macro economic analysis, this module will familiarise you with a wide range of economic tools which can be applied to issues relating to your Applied Training Programme. It covers, in particular, consumer and producer choice, market equilibrium, market structure, externalities and public goods, the macroeconomics of inflation, unemployment and growth and macroeconomic policy.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Code ECO-7016B

Credits 20

In this module you will develop your understanding of the international economy, specifically international trade. You’ll examine patterns in the global flows of goods using models of international trade theory and ask who benefits from trade and who it can harm, relating your insights to the current debate about globalisation. This module also deals with controversial issues like the effect of trade on the environment and strategic trade policy.

Optional A Modules

(20 credits)

ECONOMICS OF THE MASS MEDIA

Code ECO-7007A

Credits 20

This module is concerned with the economics of the mass media industries, with an emphasis on TV broadcasting, film, advertising and the ‘new media’ industries. Module content is guided by the broad question: What can economic theory tell us about the organisation and behaviour of the mass media industries and about the consumption of media goods and services? You’ll focus on competitive conditions in the mass media industries, the conditions under which intervention may be required, consumer behaviour and welfare, and the implications of technological change both for producers and for consumers. Students without a background in economics and who are not taking the module ‘Economic Concepts’ are not typically permitted to take this module.

FINANCE

Code ECO-7008A

Credits 20

Have you ever wondered why firms buy other firms, or why that trendy technology firm recently issued some shares? Why stock prices go up (and down)? What do we know about financial markets and, importantly, what don’t we understand? This module introduces a range of concepts related to the financial decisions firms have to make, and how these decisions lead to the existence of the stock markets that feature in the daily news. The early part of the module introduces the subject area by considering a range a fundamental concepts. From this foundation, you’ll learn how firms make financial decisions and how these decisions are interrelated. The later part of the module investigates how stock markets work, the risks involved, and the extent to which these risks can be avoided. On successful completion of the module, you’ll have gained the knowledge and skills for setting out on a career in finance, or for further study of corporate finance and financial markets. You’ll better understand financial news and be better-placed to discuss it, drawing on discussion from academic literature. You’ll be able to discuss and answer the sorts of questions prospective employers, friends and family might reasonably ask a finance postgraduate.

PROGRAMMING AND ANALYTICS FOR BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMISTS

Code ECO-7026A

Credits 20

This Autumn Semester module is intended to provide students with a grounding in the programming and data-analytic techniques that will be used in later modules and also in the dissertation. The main part of the module introduces students to programming methods in Python, including use of loops and lists, data cleaning and manipulation, methods of exploratory data analysis, data visualisation, web scraping, and methods for working with multiple data sets. Ethical issues faced when working with individual data will also be covered. The programming methods will then be applied to problems in policy evaluation, including applications of D-in-D and regression discontinuity methodology to naturally occurring data. The module ends with the use of web-search data in Economic Analysis.

Optional B Modules

(20 credits)

FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS

Code ECO-7013B

Credits 20

This technical finance module is suited to students who wish to pursue a career in the financial sector. The focus is on valuation and risk analysis of financial products, and the module is highly analytical, with weekly exercise sessions in computer labs. Topics covered include: continuous-time stochastic processes, stochastic models for security prices, bonds, term structure of interest rates, futures and forwards, options, swaps, hedging and credit risk.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

Code ECO-7015B

Credits 20

Are foreign exchange rates predictable? How can a firm hedge foreign exchange risk? What effect do interest rates have on currency values? Why are exchange rates so volatile? Are exchange rates based on macroeconomic fundamentals, or determined by speculative activity? These are the types of questions you will explore on this module. International Finance lies at the intersection of finance and macroeconomics. You’ll begin by learning the general finance tools of option pricing and risk management, before focusing on how to apply these tools to look, in particular, at exchange rates. This will involve understanding the structure of the foreign exchange market, examining theories of exchange rate determination, and looking at the foreign exchange futures and options markets. You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, which have regular intervals for team or individual work, as well as seminars and self-study. Assessment comprises of technical and essay questions. By the end of the module you’ll be equipped for further study in financial economics or a career in the finance industry, particularly in roles related to foreign exchange.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS

Code ECO-7020B

Credits 20

Gain a thorough grounding in the key issues in environmental and resource economics. This module provides an overview of the economic and econometric principles that serve as pivotal tools in ensuring that natural resources are sustainably valued and managed in a global economic environment. The applied nature of the module is complemented by technical papers that form the subject of the discussions in seminar sessions. Open to postgraduate students enrolled on both ATP and APP programmes, this module will enhance the econometric principles taught in the Autumn Semester by applying analytical and statistical methods to the field of environmental economics so as to emphasise the empirical relevance of these theories.

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Open Days

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Entry Requirements

Degree classification

Bachelors degree (minimum 2.2 or equivalent)

Degree subject

Any Subject

Additional entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.

If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here: International Graduate Diploma in Economics.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in two components only with 64 in the other two)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests

INTO University of East Anglia

If you do not meet the English requirements for this course, our partner INTO UEA run pre-sessional English courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Course Reference Number: 1544045

MSc INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ECONOMICS